Toddlers grow so fast.Their Explorations about the external objects around them are reaching new heights every day. You are alarmed when you see your toddler picking something from the ground and instantaneously putting that hand straight in the mouth. You run to your baby and hold their unsteady steps and wash them. But even though you have been super fast in your action, your child always outsmarts you in this action. The harm has been done the pinworms egg in their dirty hand have already been ingested into the body. So the life cycle of the pinworms has started in the body. It is one of the most common irritants; a mother has to go through along with her baby.
I came across this situation with my daughter when she was around one and a half. One day she suddenly pressed her stomach and pointed towards toilet to poo. She passed no poo and comes out of the potty seat crying. She is just not ready to wear her pants. She squats and tries to scratch her bottom in irritation. I pulled her down and tried to stretch her anus to find any worms nothing was visible. Then I took her in my lap and tried soothing her down in vain. After that, I applied coconut oil to soothe her tender bottom. Now I am being hit by pinworms ordeal.
Called my husband to buy the pinworm medicine from the pharmacy and bring it while returning from office.
The routine of the drug is for 15 days. The worms would be killed but now what to do about the anus itching. Moreover, I noticed while taking this medicine my already very fussy eater became all the more fussy and appetite went down drastically. These worms have barged into my already fearful world of feeding. I had to fight back. I armoured myself with some to-do list and being more vigilant and to maintain a huge hygiene routine. The de-worming journey had begun.
- All clothes and bed sheets are washed with hot water every day. The laundry work was very strenuous and exhausting. But it ensured that the eggs get killed.
- No running around the house without pants or underwear which she would often like to.
- Wash her hands in warm soapy water more often.
- Clean the floor with an extra bit of anti-germ dettol or savlon.
- Cutting off her nails more meticulously.
- Limiting her sweet intake as pinworms feed on them.
- Washing the raw vegetables more and soaking everything for half an hour before cooking.
Some of the regimes like hand wash nail cutting continued. Other eased gradually after one month.
I trained myself to be more watchful and tried to avoid the medicine and turning to the natural remedies for long run benefits.
- Garlic and coconut oil
Also, you can feed your baby more of garlic to kill the worms. Cook food with more of garlic. Make garlic dip with the finger food.
Carrots: Giving more carrots to my baby as finger food for it has sulphur which helps to kill the carrot. Steamed baby carrots and fed her with the garlic dip every day.
Apply coconut oil in the anus of your baby overnight.
Wormwood leaves or powder just less than half teaspoon daily for about two weeks Do not overdose it as it is poisonous if overdosed.
You can get homoeopathic medicine Cina which is the same purpose of eradication and derived from wormwood. Consult the homoeopathic doctor for the correct dosage for your baby.
If it is the season of fresh pineapple, you can give your kid few cubes.
Drumsticks seed as vegetables and raw papaya cubes: Boil and prepare with cloves and turmeric powder. Both turmeric and clove have potent antibacterial agents. Feed your toddler along with rice.
Carom seed or ajwain: To feed to toddlers is difficult because of its spicy test. You can crush and feed with a bit of jaggery in empty stomach for around 15 days.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Just one teaspoon daily relieves the symptom but the taste being very pungent is difficult to feed. You can give it a try.
For the itching bottom applies sandalwood dust with little water during the day would sooth and cool the rectal. Moreover, sandalwood is a strong antibacterial agent.
The most important thing is that the food habit and ingredients are easy to do and important as preventive purpose. Also not to forget the hygiene. Luckily till now I have not been bugged by the pin worms. The coconut oil massage my daughter enjoys a lot and I still apply a doleful in her rectal area. The funny part is; that has turned into a habit, and even if I forget she reminds me.